Gusty Thunderstorms Leave Power Outages, Damage Behind
ANN ARBOR (WWJ) - A couple of lines of strong storms were made their way across southeast Michigan, leaving downed power lines and other damage in their wake.
DTE Energy noted at 10 p.m. that there were about 5,000 customers and businesses without power due to storms and they expect that number to decrease overnight. The limited number of outages are scattered throughout the Metro Detroit area.
The largest outage was near Centerline, in the area of I-696 and Hoover, with 1,700 outages there during the height of the storm.
Meantime, emergency crews were reporting significant damage to homes in an around Ann Arbor.
Joyce Williams of the Huron Valley Ambulance told WWJ Newsradio 950 the damage was heavy near Jackson and Dexter Roads on the west side of town.
"What we're seeing is property damage in the Dexter Road, Jackson Road area where it splits heading," Williams said. "It's all property damage; we don't have any reports of any injuries."
Williams said multiple power lines were brought down by heavy winds. One home was hit by a fallen tree.
"Do not go outside, do not go anywhere unless you absolutely have to," she said, late Tuesday afternoon. "There's a lot of wires that are downed wires in the area. You wanna stay away from any downed wires, and that's what we're advising people right now."
Thunderstorm warnings for the metro Detroit communities have expired, but AccuWeather's John Feerick said all may not be said and done for the tonight and Wednesday.
"There is another line of storms that bears watching out for toward Battle Creek," Feerick said. "As it continues to push eastward, we'll certainly keep an eye on it ... But there certainly could be some gusty storms around early this evening, containing gusty winds, hail, drenching downpours."
Feerick said metro Detroiters should look out for vivid cloud to ground lighting, too, Tuesday night.
Wednesday weather continues to bring rain to the region.
Keep it tuned to WWJ Newsradio 950 for the latest forecast during traffic and weather, every 10 minutes on the 8s. See the live, local radar now at this link.
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For daily weather forecast text alerts: Text FORECAST to 95001
To report downed lines or a power outage to DTE, call 800-477-4747; or you can make a report online and check the DTE outage map, HERE.
